by Chris Cannon
WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Tenn. - When you drive down Old Charlotte Pike in Williamson County you cannot miss the light display coming from Chad Hoover's house. This year he hopes you also see the donation box for Graceworks Ministries.
The front yard of the 22-year-old's home is covered with 65,000 Christmas lights of every color. It takes 1.5 miles of extension cords and nine, 20 amp circuits, to power 'Lights on Old Charlotte."
"We have a 20 foot mega-tree that has 5,000 lights on it," Hoover said.
The tree is the centerpiece of the display he and his father set up every year. It takes them four months to put it altogether.
The Hoovers start to plan the next year's display right after Christmas.
"We go to all the after Christmas sales, try to get stuff there when it's cheap, instead of paying full price for it," Hoover explained.
That is how they can add new elements to the display each year. In 2011, the new flashing light above a donation box for Graceworks Ministries is getting a lot of attention.
"We just hoped, maybe, we could give a little bit back," Hoover said.
Graceworks is Williamson County's go-to charity for local families in need. They will provide for nearly 900 families this Christmas and almost all that aid comes from donations.
"And we love it when people in the community are creative in figuring out, not only how they can give, but how they can provide and opportunity for others in the community to give," said Graceworks executive director Tina Edwards.
"Lights on Old Charlotte" is open daily from 4:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., weather permitting. Hoover has a web site with directions on how to get to the light display.
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